Study design
Infants born at 24-30 weeks of gestation treated with oxygen via either
CPAP or nasal cannula (NC) for evolving CLD and history of at
least one of the following: failed respiratory support weaning, chest
X-ray characteristic of pulmonary edema, and/or increased work of
breathing (tachypnea, intercostal retractions) were recruited. Infants
with major congenital anomalies, lung anomalies, pulmonary hypertension,
or cardiac anomalies (including ASD, VSD, and PDA) were excluded from
the study. Infants in the diuretic group were started on diuretic
therapy at the discretion of their physicians and compared with the
control group of infants not receiving diuretics. Oral diuretic regimens
included: furosemide only, furosemide followed by hydrochlorothiazide in
those that responded to initial furosemide trial, hydrochlorothiazide
and spironolactone, and hydrochlorothiazide only. In the diuretic group,
LUS exams were performed within 1 day prior to the start of diuretic
treatment (day 0), and on days 1, 3 and 6 after the first dose of
diuretic. In the control group, LUS exams were performed at the same
time points.